New this year is the 5-foot by 10-foot Ice Wall in JFK Plaza, prepared by Wicked Good Ice of Rochester, N.H. Kids will be able to carve their names in the wall throughout the weekend, as well as play ice-constructed tic-tac-toe and corn hole nearby.

WinterFest kicks off on Friday with Free Skating at the Tonsgas Center at UMass Lowell from 3 to 5 p.m. But the real fun starts at 5:30 with the opening of the Polar Party at Club Celsius. The 21+ party inside the massive heated tent on Arcand Drive will feature a selection of beer, food and music. The party will continue on Saturday with live music inside the tent all day, with performers such as NEMA winners Sarah Blacker, The Adam Ezra Group and the Chad Hollister Band. Admission is $5 on Friday, and $5 after 7 p.m. on Saturday. The tent is free and for all ages on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.

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The 3rd Annual Microbrew Showcase and Competition will also take place in the heated tent as a separate ticketed event from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday. The contest will feature microbrews, hard ciders and craft beers from more than 20 brewers from across the country. NEMA nominees Freevolt and Frank Viele will perform throughout the night. $20 admission, which gives you 15 sample tickets redeemable for 3 oz. samples.

From left, Dolores Renaud of Chelmsford with her sister Helene Renaud of Lowell, Liz Morache of New York City, and Denise Villineau of Lowell.

The WinterFest Opening Ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Human Dogsled Track, where the ceremony will be immediately followed by the preliminary rounds of the National Human Dogsled Competition. The famous test of speed, strength, teamwork and temperature endurance will conclude with its final rounds on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Friday night will also feature roasted marshmallows on Arcand Drive, snowman building at City Hall Plaza, and a kids party with WinterFest mascot Lowla Bear.

Saturday will start off with a Wildlife Tracking expedition at Hawk Valley Farm in Lowell at 9 a.m. The Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust will lead a trip through the farm, where you can learn about deer, foxes, skunks, opossums and more. Free but space is limited. Call 978-934-0030 or email gwen@lowelllandtrust.org to RSVP.

The All-You-Can-Eat Chocolate Festival will be held at St. Anne's Church on Kirk Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If your blood sugar still isn't high enough after going to that, you can head to Roger's Fort Hill Park for Maple Sugaring, presented by the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust in partnership with Mass Audobon's Drumlin Farm. Learn about the whole process, from tapping a maple tree for its sap to converting it to syrup. Free but space is limited. Call 978-934-0030 or email gwen@lowelllandtrust.org to RSVP.

Saturday will also feature: Mittens and Museum Madness, an indoor family play space that will include music, arts and crafts, games and more inside the Lowell High School cafeteria from noon to 5 p.m.; The North Bowl Soup Competition from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Masonic Center ($5 admission); a Live Dog Mushing Demonstration by Northern Exposure Outfitters from 1 to 3 p.m. at the dogsled track; the Cirque de Light Fire Performance at 6 p.m. at JFK Plaza; the festival's Laser Light ShowFinale in Club Celsius at 6:40 p.m.; and more.

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